SXSW Panels of My Network

Although it’s been the conventional wisdom since the 1930s, brainstorming as a way of generating innovative ideas is more often than not an exercise in futility. The process of gathering together in a stuffy room, drinking coffee, eating donuts and “thinking” by committee is doomed to failure as evidenced by the colossal demise of such products as The New Coke, Sony BetaMax, and WebTV. This panel of innovation experts will expose the fact that failure occurs so often because true innovation and creativity are processes that cannot be institutionalized or forced in a formal group setting where members respond to fear and peer pressure.
We all have the ability to be innovative and develop new ideas. However, changing ingrained consumer habits is hard unless a product is truly innovative. Attendees will learn that innovation is not about fulfilling our own needs, but uprooting and weaving together new connections that resonate instantly with people. By having more and better insights and

Are marketers wasting time and money with today’s influence measurement tools? This all-star panel of social media thought leaders exposes the pitfalls of finding social media influencers, and reveals why many marketers get it wrong. They’ll show that influence measurement tools like Klout and Kred are misleading marketers into believing they are measuring influence, when they are only measuring popularity. Today’s platforms perform so poorly when measuring such critical factors as the ability to motivate action and effect behavioral change that basing decisions on these tools alone can be dangerous. Panelists will discuss why marketers should stop focusing on tools and start using social media for what it was meant to accomplish - building relationships and harnessing communities. By using innovative methods to identify peer influencers who demonstrate creativity, insight and passion, marketers can learn to start an avalanche of positive attitudes for their brand, product or service.

Are marketers wasting time and money with today’s influence measurement tools? This all-star panel of social media thought leaders exposes the pitfalls of finding social media influencers, and reveals why many marketers get it wrong. They’ll show that influence measurement tools like Klout and Kred are misleading marketers into believing they are measuring influence, when they are only measuring popularity. Today’s platforms perform so poorly when measuring such critical factors as the ability to motivate action and effect behavioral change that basing decisions on these tools alone can be dangerous. Panelists will discuss why marketers should stop focusing on tools and start using social media for what it was meant to accomplish - building relationships and harnessing communities. By using innovative methods to identify peer influencers who demonstrate creativity, insight and passion, marketers can learn to start an avalanche of positive attitudes for their brand, product or service.

As a business owner or marketer, you're pressured to use social media even at the expense of other tools. Social media is said to be more effective than advertising, websites, press releases, and trade shows. Is it? To add to that idea, you're told social media is about being human, but what does "being human" mean?

What If I told you you didn't have to pick just one - you can have multiple marketing superpowers that can be adapted to your industry, business goals and resources. We're not talking "Superman" powers of super human strength -- more like the Justice League with the help of technology, data and - most importantly - influencers and advocates.

In today's social world, many companies are broadsided by an unflattering pic-gone-viral, a rogue tweet or a cause-driven virtual lynch mob. There are also organizations riding social media to extreme benefit; their employer branding, recruiting and online reputations have made them far more competitive. How? By leveraging the passion of their employees as brand ambassadors.